Chapter 253: Brothers (9)
Chapter 253: Brothers (9)
The owner of the footsteps soon rounded the corridor's corner and stepped into the kerosene lamp's glow.
"This creature's design is pretty grotesque..." Feng Bu Jue squinted under the dim artificial light, catching sight of a revolting biological abomination.
The monster's lower body resembled a human's, with remnants of clothing clinging to its crotch area. Exposed from the thighs down, its flesh was a blurred, indistinct mass. Iron plates were embedded into the soles of its feet, resembling horseshoes. A ring of iron needles pierced through the soles, protruding from the foot's surface—just looking at them made one wince in sympathy.
Its upper body was even more bizarre. The entire torso was covered in tongues—front, back, and under the armpits. Each one writhed and squirmed. A solid iron mask encased its head, completely sealing from the crown to the jawline without any openings for breathing or vision.
Two muscular arms hung at its sides. Instead of hands and fingers, massive bone spurs—nearly the size of elephant tusks—protruded from its wrists, one in each arm.
Feng Bu Jue immediately activated his adamantine bell. If this creature was an Npc, Command One would trigger; if a monster, Command Two would take effect. Either way, the data feedback from the menu would reveal the truth.
[Name: Asher's Servant]
[Race: Synthetic Human]
[Level: 26]
[Height: 190 centimeters]
[Weight: 120 kilograms]
[Combat Method: Melee, Mid-Range Physical Attacks]
[Weakness: Lacks hearing and vision. Relies on tongues across its torso to locate targets. Tongues are fragile.]
[Skills: Bone Spur Slam, Headbutt, Tendril Restraint]
[Danger Level: Moderate]
"Hmph... No related tasks, flags, or identity details listed... Definitely a monster then." Feng Bu Jue quickly scanned the menu before slipping back through the door and securing the latch. "This thing clearly lacks fingers", he muttered. "So it definitely can't get in."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The iron-masked monster began ramming its helmeted head against the door.
"As expected", Feng Bu Jue smirked. "Now I just wait for it to—"
Crack!
A bone spur pierced the wooden door, tearing a palm-sized hole. Fortunately, Feng Bu Jue had retreated a few steps after closing the door, or his chest would have been impaled.
"Are you kidding me?!" He instinctively drew his pipe wrench, grip tightening. "Was the real choice to hide in the bathroom and avoid detection? Did saving this synthetic human just paint a target on my back?"
The door shattered like kindling as the monster tore through. Feng Bu Jue calculated his options mid-retreat.
According to the adamantine bell's data, this monster wasn't particularly strong. In a slightly open environment, a player wielding a ranged weapon could safely target its vulnerable tongues from outside the bone spurs' range, retreating while attacking for a guaranteed no-damage kill.
Unfortunately, this cramped bathroom—barely five square meters—left no room to maneuver. Even deploying his only ranged weapon, the Death Poker, would grant only a few shots before forcing close combat. At best, his shield ability might block a few fatal strikes.
Trapped in this confined space, he'd have to fight the monster on its terms—melee. With his vitality already depleted, the odds weren't in his favor.
After a minute, the door collapsed entirely. The monster leaned forward, squeezing through the gap. Feng Bu Jue backed into the wall, nowhere left to retreat.
But the creature ignored him completely. It took several steps, turned, and advanced on the other synthetic human cowering in the corner.
"Ugh... Ugh... Cough!" The tongueless, jawless figure let out a muffled death rattle.
Shlick! Shlick!
The attacker's twin bone spurs pierced the victim's chest. Lifting the corpse, it pressed the body against its torso, tongues adhering the dead weight to its front like a grotesque embrace.
Feng Bu Jue wasn't sure if the first synthetic human had survived, but he had no intention of interrupting this macabre reunion.
Asher's Servant turned and strode out of the bathroom at the same steady pace it had arrived with. From its entrance to departure, it never acknowledged Feng Bu Jue's presence.
"Can't detect me at all?" Feng Bu Jue slipped out behind it, curiosity overriding caution. "Let's see where you're taking that corpse."
Most would have frozen in place, holding their breath until the monster vanished. But Feng Bu Jue acted decisively—analyzing, then moving.
"Why can't it sense me? My scent? Or..." He strolled casually a meter behind the monster, no need for stealth since it lacked hearing. "Is this some ghost mechanic? Did I die in the zero-numbered cell during the opening CG, and everything since has been a ghost's illusion—except that recent scene?" He chuckled. "Guess that would make me a pretty special ghost—able to open doors and all."
He dismissed the theories as absurd mid-thought.
"Wait... Maybe it can sense me, but just doesn't care to attack?" The idea sparked new connections. "If I'm Andrew, Asher's Servant wouldn't harm its master's brother. Whatever happened between those two, Asher clearly didn't want Andrew dead—otherwise he'd have killed him at the scenario's start."
As he pondered, the monster reached the staircase to the second floor. Strangely, the meat wall remained unchanged.
"Hey now... How'd you get down here? The footsteps came from this spot..." Feng Bu Jue began.
The corpse-laden synthetic human stepped onto the stairs.
It squeezed into the meat wall as easily as plunging a hand into a jar of dates. The fleshy barrier conformed to its body, shifting seamlessly around its form. After passage, the wall resealed itself completely.
"So this is how you pass through?" Feng Bu Jue regretted only poking the wall earlier. "Wait—why did I need three keys to trigger this dog-fighting scene? Oh!" He slapped his forehead. "This whole sequence was a demonstration! A tutorial on bypassing the meat wall!"
Taking a deep breath, he activated his goblin toxic gas mask and charged forward, slamming into the meat wall.
Nothing.
Blood splattered as he pushed against the unyielding flesh, soaking his clothes. The system prompt flashed repeatedly:
[Sorcery-controlled barrier. Appears composed of piled corpses.]
"What does that mean?!" Feng Bu Jue growled. "Monsters can pass but I can't? Monk touches it, I can't?" He quoted a line from The True Story of Ah Q in frustration.
"Darn it! Thinking I'm some harmless Hello Kitty..." He swung his pipe wrench in a wide arc—【Here Comes a Move】!
The meat wall reacted violently. Upon impact, a magical force field shimmered across its surface. The attack rebounded, sending Feng Bu Jue flying backward. He crashed into the corridor wall, vitality dropping to 10% as precious stamina drained away.
"Fine! You've got guts!" He jabbed a finger at the wall like a defeated brawler. "Just wait—your time's coming."
Of course, the wall wasn't going anywhere.
After the collision—and emotional release—inspiration struck. Returning to the restroom, he approached the corner. His gaze settled on the wall where the earlier monster's bone spurs had left two gaping holes.
(End of Chapter)
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